Beer gardens not targeted by Nottingham's planned street-drinking ban
Nottingham City Council has reassured pubs and bars that their customers will still be able to drink outside their premises in the event of a ban on street drinking.
Last week, Caterer reported that Nottingham was set to become the first city in England and Wales to introduce a blanket ban on drinking outdoors.
However, a council spokesperson allayed the fears of hospitality operators, who had raised concerns that this would apply to beer gardens and alfresco dining, by clarifying that the ban was intended to tackle anti-social behaviour in public places, not prevent people from drinking responsibly outside.
"People will not be banned from drinking outside pubs and bars. This is about tackling anti-social behaviour, not preventing people drinking responsibly when and where they like," he said.
The council plans to take advantage of a new law, due to come into effect next year, which will give local authorities the power to introduce bylaws that could include city-wide bans on boozing in the streets.
Street drinking is already prohibited in Nottingham city centre and three other problem areas but, if the ban is approved, offenders could be fined £500 for drinking outside in the city.
Councillor Jon Collins said tackling anti-social behaviour including street drinking was a prime concern for the residents of Nottingham.
"A city-wide ban would help us to deal more effectively with this problem and give all our residents the reassurance that irresponsible drinking and the loutish behaviour that all too often follows will not be tolerated in the streets of Nottingham," he said.
The proposed ban follows a series of measures being introduced by councils to curb drink-related violence, including the right to place Drinking Banning Orders on troublesome individuals over the age of 16.
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By Emma White
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